Naga CSOs decry, demand release of UNC leaders
Source: The Sangai Express

Dimpur/Imphal, November 27 2016: Leading Naga organisations in condemning the arrest of UNC president Gaidon Kamei and publicity and information secretary Sankhui Stephen, the Naga Hoho has appealed the authority concerned to release the two Naga leaders unconditionally.

"The move to defend the ancestral lands and rights of the Nagas cannot be construed as illegal," the Naga Hoho said in a statement made available to Newmai News Network this evening in Dimapur.

In its statement, the Naga Hoho said that the Government of Manipur must reason out to have peace and tranquillity in the region instead of provoking the situation which may further provoke the common people.

The Naga Hoho also appealed to the Government of India to intervene immediately as the "communal Manipur Government is waging war against the Naga people" .

Naga CSOs decry, demand release of UNC leaders

The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has also denounced the allegations levelled by Chief Minister O Ibobi against the two UNC leaders and demanded that they be immediately and unconditionally released before the 48 hours deadline set by the UNC expires.

Briefing media persons today, the TNL accused the Chief Minister of fuelling the Naga people and added that the charge he has levelled against the two UNC leaders is a challenge to the Naga people.

Seeking to justify the economic blockade, the TNL leaders said that the Government was warned earlier against any design to declare Sadar Hills and Jiribam as full fledged districts.

The Chief Minister should retract his earlier statement that action will be taken up against other functionaries of the UNC, they added.

Being a leader of the State, the Chief Minister should strive to understand the problems and issues of every tribe in Manipur to ensure peace and tranquillity, said TNL.

Stating that the UNC has informed all the Naga people to gather at the mini-secretariat of each district headquarters before the expiry of the 48 hours deadline set to release the two UNC leaders, the TNL leaders said that failure to release the UNC functionaries within the deadline can give rise to unwanted incidents.

The State Government should be held solely responsible for any eventuality, they added.

TNL vice president said that public gathering will begin from 1 pm onward at mini-secretariat office at Hamleikhong, Ukhrul to await the State Government's decision before the expiry of the 48 hours deadline tomorrow at 4 pm.

The TNL has also invited all the frontal organizations of the Tangkhul people to discuss the issue.

The Naga Students' Federation has also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the two UNC leaders.

In a statement, the student body said that in the event of failing to release them, the Government of Manipur should be held solely responsible for any eventuality.

The State Government should know that the United Naga Council represents the voice and the sentiments of the Nagas of Manipur, said the student body and added the Government under the Chief Ministership of Ibobi Singh is not serious of any demands made by the Naga people.

Rather, Ibobi is using the Naga issue for his own political mileage by creating huge communal tension among the various communities living in Manipur, charged NSF.

The Government of Manipur should stop playing divisive politics and creating communal disharmony among the various ethnic communities, it added.

The NSF has fervently appealed to all peace loving people to seriously question the undemocratic move of the Government of Manipur and condemned the arrest of the two Naga leaders.